Critic slams 1866 Shield 5-cent coin upon release: Q. David Bowers

Suggests obverse design resembles frying pan

At least one critic panned the design of the Shield 5-cent coin in the American Journal of Numismatics when the series was introduced in 1866. Original images courtesy of American Numismatic Rarities.

The Proof 1866 Shield 5-cent coin cost 10 cents at the time of issue and is worth $4,750 today if graded Proof 66. Images courtesy of American Numismatic Rarities.

The Joys of Collecting column from May 16, 2016, Weekly issue of Coin World:

If you have a copy of the May monthly issue of Coin World you
will see that an 1866 Shield 5-cent coin, the first year of issue, is
valued at $4,750 in Proof 66 grade.

If you turn to the September 1866 issue of the American Journal
of Numismatics, you will find that a Proof Shield nickel, just
released, could be ordered from the Mint for 10 cents. If only your
great-grandfather had ordered 100 of them and kept them to pass down
the family to you. His investment would be worth $475,000 today!

On the other hand, if your theoretical ancestor had read this review
on the same page of the journal, perhaps he would not have ordered
even one! Under the heading “The New Five Cent Piece” the writer opined:

“I have at length succeeded, by the help of a friend, in obtaining a
proof (?) set of the one, two, three, and five cent pieces of 1866;
and, inasmuch as the latter piece, particularly, is an ‘original,’
both in design and workmanship, perhaps a description of it may prove acceptable.

“I say it is an ‘original,’ because I have seen nothing like it in
my collection …

“On the obverse of this remarkable coin, the first thing that
attracts the attention, is a very elaborate and highly ornamented
gridiron [frying pan], the clumsy handle of which appears to be broken
from the body, thus rendering this culinary utensil almost useless.
The upper part and sides of this gridiron are hung with leaves of some
sort, strongly reminding one of the savory bunches of herbs displayed
in a market-house in autumn, or of a green grocer’s sign in
huckleberry time. Perhaps the same accident that severed the handle of
the gridiron also fractured the lower part, for we notice that it is
there skewered by two arrows, pointing in opposite directions. The
motto ‘In God we trust,’ is very opportune, for the inventor of
this coin may rest assured that the devil will never forgive him for
such an abortion.

“The reverse of this thing is less objectionable, for the inventor
appears to have almost exhausted his remarkable skill on the obverse.
However, he has made a ‘bold push’ and brought forth something. Here
we have a circle of stars intersected by thirteen bars of three
scratches each … The make-up of this coin is completed by the
insertion in the field, of a big, loud 5 with ‘cents’ in the exergue …
Mr. Editor, did we ever have another such coin?”

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.

The Commission of Fine Artsâ recommendation for the Proof 2014 American Eagle platinum coin, left, brought outrage and derision at the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee meeting. The CCAC recommended the design to the right.